New credit union moves into old Derry bank

DERRY — A new credit union is moving into the former Community Bank and Trust building at 38 Birch St.

Earlier this week, the Planning Board gave the OK for the new Granite State Credit Union branch, which includes expanding its parking lot to a neighboring property on Birch Street.

The exterior of the bank building is being updated, but will remain essentially the same as the previous building, according to project construction manager Jack Reed.

“We’ve redone the building with new finishes, but the colors are exactly the same,” Reed said. At the request of the fire department, there is also a new stairway from the second floor at the back of the building.

The biggest change to the property is the credit union’s acquisition of the neighboring property at 42 Birch St. for additional parking. The existing building on that property has been razed to make way for 11 additional parking spaces, according to project engineer Richard Maynard.

“The total parking on site will then be 31 spaces, including four handicap spaces,” Maynard said.

The parking lot addition will also include ornamental fencing along Birch and Pierce streets, a stockade fence between the property and a neighboring residential abutter, and a new public sidewalk along Birch Street.

The town’s Highway Safety Committee determined that the ornamental fencing will not affect traffic site lines along Birch and Pierce, according to Randall Chase, who sits on the safety committee and the planning board.

“This is an existing bank,” said Town Administrator John Anderson. “I guess my curiosity is piqued as to why you think you will need the additional parking they did not have.”